Ch.299IF Side Story: From the Beginning (67)

Yes. That guy was hasty.

I don’t know anything yet, but at least I can tell that one thing.

Pang Pang is an important figure in this company. I don’t know why, though.

“…I’d like you to tell me where Pang Pang is.”

For a moment, I wondered if Hayun or the others would stop me. After all, our mission wasn’t to destroy or interrogate an executive.

Nor was it to rescue one kidnapped alien.

What we needed to do was return to headquarters with the item I now held in my hand. That was the very reason we had broken in here.

Thinking about it now, we were bound to be discovered anyway. We’re not a specially trained infiltration unit. We’re walking billboards who fight flamboyantly while wearing bright, sparkly outfits.

Though it’s not explicitly stated, we exist to essentially say “please think well of the Federation” in a roundabout way.

I don’t understand why the Federation and the corporation keep jabbing at each other like this—

“Well, I suppose you’ll only tell me if I hand this over.”

“That’s exactly right.”

When I raised the “Core” in my hand while speaking, the executive immediately responded.

“Yes. It’s true that we can’t do anything to that woman’s life. However, we could make a different deal.”

“It’s hard to believe anything from someone who sent me a fake mother without even considering a deal.”

“…”

When I taunted him, the executive fell silent.

I looked to the side.

Hayun’s pink eyes were looking straight at me.

They weren’t asking what I was going to do. Rather, they didn’t show any of the concern she had displayed on our way here.

They were just calmly settled, giving the impression that she would accept whatever action I took.

“…So, fighting you is pretty meaningless, actually.”

I said.

“But I still feel like I need to hit you once to calm down.”

As I turned my head back to glare at him, the surrounding combatants and the executive simultaneously took a step back.

I handed the Core to Hayun. She nodded and took it.

“I won’t fight too roughly.”

“Yeah, I trust you.”

When I spoke somewhat apologetically, Hayun gave me a slight smile.

I gripped my hammer.

Then I charged toward the combatants who had started to flee.

*

The luxurious room had absolutely no means of two-way communication.

Perhaps thinking it wouldn’t be positive for Pang Pang to communicate with other magical girls, the room contained only a TV.

It seemed to be connected to the internet, but it had no functions for searching or commenting—it was a TV that seemed optimized for this kind of situation.

Pang Pang had no knowledge of programming or engineering. Though an alien, she only had the ability to handle mana-powered devices better than Earth people and fight a little better.

Wearing comfortable clothes for the first time in years, Pang Pang sat blankly on the bed.

She hadn’t met the chairperson directly.

Perhaps, just as Pang Pang felt a vague fear about meeting her grandmother—the chairperson—the other side felt similar emotions.

The chairperson, in her own way, considered Pang Pang… family, but that was it.

In the end, Pang Pang felt that she was only seen as a replacement.

For Pang Pang, who had grown to love Earth culture and especially formed a friendship with someone who was considered a “research subject” on Earth, such an option was unwelcome.

In the end, she got caught for being too conspicuous.

She had regretted it countless times. If she hadn’t become friends with Jieun, she wouldn’t have hurt her. She would have just been one of many beings living alone in an unknown place.

Honestly, she had been excited. Becoming friends with the magical girls she admired. The fact that these friends occasionally visited and chatted about trivial things made her happy.

“…”

Pang Pang jumped up from her seat and wandered aimlessly around the spacious room. There was nothing to do in here anyway.

She had been told she could walk around inside the building, but that didn’t make her feel any better.

Even the sea of stars visible through the window held no meaning when viewed in this mood.

Pang Pang sat blankly for a while, then turned on the TV again.

She hated this silent space.

…Well, that was partly her own doing. She could call someone if she wanted anything. But knowing that person would just be one of the company’s monitors, Pang Pang didn’t feel like calling anyone, even though she knew it was pointless.

As soon as she turned on the TV to break the silence in this too-quiet place—there was Jieun’s face.

She was covered in dust all over. Especially where she had been sweating, dust had settled, making her look somewhat uncomfortable.

But strangely, the expression on Jieun’s face looked somehow refreshed.

She even smiled toward the camera pointed at her.

One of the magical girls watching from behind—Iris—touched Jieun’s shoulder as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

After listening to what Iris whispered in her ear, Jieun briefly made an “oops” expression, but then shook her head. The gesture seemed to say, “It’s already been revealed as much as it could be, so what can we do?”

[May I ask why you’re visiting the Noir Corporation building in the middle of the night?]

[We heard there was a disturbance inside. Can you tell us why you look like that?]

[Why are you wearing magical girl attire as you exit the Noir Corporation building?]

Reporters swarmed around, firing questions without pause.

All those microphones were pointed at Jieun.

Among the magical girls, if there was one who could clearly be considered the center, it was Jieun.

[…]

Jieun was lost in thought for a moment, then looked toward the camera.

Even in that situation, the expression on Jieun’s face wasn’t one of annoyance or irritation. Rather, Jieun smiled brightly while looking directly at the camera.

It felt as if she was making eye contact with Pang Pang.

Jieun spoke.

[Pang Pang.]

At those words, the reporters suddenly fell silent.

It was an unexpected statement. Probably an unfamiliar name to Earth people, especially Koreans.

Pang Pang felt her heart racing as she watched Jieun’s face.

[I know you’re somewhere out there. I don’t know if you’re listening, but if you are, remember just one thing.]

Pang Pang tried not to get her hopes up.

She feared that Jieun’s image of her might have been completely ruined. After all, they had been such close friends.

And suddenly, in that moment, Pang Pang’s identity was revealed.

That alone would be enough to break their relationship. If Pang Pang had been in that position, she would have thought the other person had deliberately approached her with the intent to deceive.

But Jieun’s expression showed no such gloomy emotions.

[I’m coming to find you.]

Jieun said calmly.

[Let’s talk when we meet. Wherever you are, I’ll find you.]

“…”

Pang Pang’s mind seemed to freeze for a moment.

There was no other emotion in Jieun’s smile. Rather, as if relieved to have said it, Jieun stared at the camera a moment longer before turning around abruptly.

[Wait a moment, please!]

[What was that about just now…!]

But Jieun, as if she had nothing more to say, flew up toward the sky.

Her figure quickly grew smaller.

Following her, the other magical girls also took flight.

Rose shook her head as if Jieun was truly hopeless, smiling as she flew up.

Dalia sighed deeply and gave a bitter smile, while Iris chased after Jieun with sparkling eyes.

Delphinium looked up at Jieun in admiration, then looked at Hayun who remained.

Hayun too was gazing up at Jieun endlessly.

With a slight smile on her lips.

The ends of her eyebrows were slightly lowered.

The reporters seemed to want to ask Hayun something too, but she also flew up to the sky as if she had nothing more to say.

The camera followed the magical girls, but they soon disappeared from view. The sight of the diminishing magical girls flying in one direction was as beautiful as watching colorful comets.

“…”

Afterward, the news continued to chatter on about various things, but Pang Pang could barely hear it.

She could only think about what Jieun had said.

Strangely, her heart was racing.

“…Is it… okay for me to wait?”

No matter how much she pondered, no answer came.

Only the fact that Jieun had told her to wait remained in her heart.

“…”

What conversation would they have? What apology would Jieun expect? Pang Pang didn’t know.

But even so.

Pang Pang saw some hope in Jieun’s words.

The magical girls, admired by everyone. That’s why some called them hope.

Some said they were just political propaganda, and others called them the Federation’s dogs—

…But from the moment Jieun spoke those words, to Pang Pang, she was a magical girl in the truest sense of the word.